Mayor Richard Berry wants the police union to end a controversial practice of rewarding money to officers involved in shootings. Regina reports.

Mayor Richard Berry wants the police union to end a controversial practice of rewarding money to officers involved in shootings. Regina reports.

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Updated: 6:55 PM MDT Jun 3, 2014

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WEBVTT TOMORROW. HE TOLD OUR PARTNERS ALLEGATION WITH WITHOUT MERIT HE LOOKS TO PROVING IT IN COURT. MAYOR WANT TO POLICE UNION END CONTROVERSIAL PRACTICE SOME REWARD MONEY FOR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN SHOOTING. TONIGHT THEY SAY THE MAYOR NEVER GAME TO THEM WITH THEIR CONCERNS. WE ARE JOINED LIVE TO EXPLAIN HOW THE MAYOR ACTUALLY SUPPORTED THE PROGRAM IN THE PAST. WELL, THIS REIMBURSEMENT FOR OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN SHOT OR SHOT AT SUSPECTS THEY USE FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES OR HOTELS. NOW THE UNION USED GIVE OFFICERS $500 CASH TO GET WAY AND DECOMPRESS THAT CHANGE CHANGED FEW YEARS AGO AND I MAY YEAR ANNOUNCED IT HIMSELF. IN THE PRACTICE OF CASH PAYMENT TO OFFICERS FOLLOWING OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING WILL END. IN 2012 THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THE POLICE UNION WOULD REIMBURSE OFFICERS FOR EXPENSES TO DECOMPRESS AFTER SHOOTING. AND INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM $500 CASH OUTRIGHT. THE UNION SAYS THE MONEY HELPS OFFICERS TAKE TIME TO DEAL WITH LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE OF BEING INVOLVED IN THE SHOOTING. BARRIE MADE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH FORMER POLICE CHIEF RAY SCHULTZ AND THE FORMER UNION PRESIDENT GREG WEBBER. ALTERING THE PRACTICE JUST SLIGHTLY TO WHERE WE WERE REIMBURSING OFFICERS FORCE EXPENSE WOULD BE BETTER WAY TO GO AND WOULD BE LESS SUBJECT TO MISS UNDERSTANDING. EVERYBODY SEEMED TO ON THE SAME PAGE BACK THEN. THAT WAS ONLY PRESS CONFERENCE THE MAYOR HAS EVER HELD WITH THE POLICE UNION. FAST FORWARD TWO YEARS, AND NOW THIS IS THE MAYOR'S TAKE ON THE REIMBURSEMENTS. NO MATTER WHAT THE FORM PAYMENT TAKES, THE UNION SHOULD NOT BE ENGAGING ANY PRACTICE THAT KEY CRATES PERCEPTION OF REWARD IN THE YACHT HALF OF THE THESE INCIDENTS. I WANT TO CLARIFY IF THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS EVER BEEN REWARD FOR SHOOTING SOMEONE. UNION PRESIDENT SAYS NEITHER THE MAYOR OR HIS OFFICE EVER REACHED OUT TO TALK ABOUT REVISITING THE ISSUE. HE HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE HIS STAFF CONTACT ME TO WHERE WE COULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. UNION SAYS FEWER THAT DOZEN OFFICERS HAVE USED THE RIHANNA BECOME REOF IT IN LAST YEAR. THE UNION SAYS IT DOES NOT PLAN TO STOP THE PRO PRACTICE NOW. THERE SO MUCH MORE TO THAT OFFICER AND THEIR FAMILY GO THROUGH WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN PUT IN THAT SITUATION. THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE. THEY DON'T GET TO SEE THAT SIDE OF IT. NOW THE MONEY COMES OUT OF UNION DUES HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD. REPORTING LIVE IN DOWNTOWN, ACTION 7NEWS. SOME FAMILIES OF THOSE SHOT BY

APD union reimbursements: Mayor wants practice stopped

Mayor Richard Berry wants the police union to end a controversial practice of rewarding money to officers involved in shootings. Regina reports.